the south of france whose meat and did up -- ended up on supermarket shelves is accused by the french government of knowingly selling horse meat as beef. our european correspondent christian frazier reports. >> tonight, it was the french company spanghero in the dock, and the minister of consumer affairs said they sent out horsemeat as beef. >> spanghero was the first actor in the food chain to import horsemeat as beef. >> in a french newspaper, an invoice for one of the three ships that spanghero was said to have ordered in january. the total volume, and 42 tons. the ceo still insists that its company received a beep and sold but what it thought was beef. the ships travel by this facility in the netherlands. french authorities believe that spanghero ordered the course made -- horsemeat and sold it as beef. the could contain up to 100% horse. and other person in that food chain, this man, a dutch meat trader. he was here at this courthouse. to court records says he relabeled imported mexican and brazilian horse meat as halal beef. an appeal is pending. he did not return our calls, but his lawyer